Woodworking Terminology: A Glossary of Common Terms 

Last updated on June 10th, 2025 at 12:52 pm

Before You Pick Up a Saw, Know the Lingo: Every craft has its own language—and woodworking is no different. Whether you’re building your first birdhouse or fine-tuning cabinet joints, knowing the right terms can save you time, prevent mistakes, and help you communicate clearly with others in the shop. This glossary breaks down key woodworking terminology, giving both beginners and seasoned makers a shared vocabulary to work from. Consider it part of your essential prep—right up there with sharpening your tools.

Definition of Woodworking

What Exactly Is Woodworking?

At its core, woodworking is the craft of transforming raw timber into functional or decorative pieces—think cabinets, chairs, carved bowls, or even ornate picture frames. It’s a broad field that includes everything from classic carpentry and intricate joinery to artistic wood turning and hand carving. The process might involve sawing rough boards to size, shaping curves with chisels, sanding down surfaces until smooth, or polishing a final piece until it gleams. In short, it’s where creativity meets precision—with wood as the medium.

Importance of Understanding Woodworking Terminology

Fluency in woodworking jargon isn’t just for show—it’s a practical necessity. If you want to follow project plans, decode tool manuals, or swap tips with fellow builders, you’ll need to speak the same language. From identifying the right joint for a tabletop to choosing between hardwoods and softwoods, the right terminology clears up confusion and speeds up the learning curve. In many ways, mastering these terms is as important as mastering the tools themselves.

Types of Woodworking

Carpentry

Definition: The construction, installation, and repair of wooden structures such as floors, doors, and cabinets, often in a building context.

Examples of Carpentry Tasks:

• Rough Carpentry: Framing and roofing with emphasis on structural integrity.
• Joister: Installing floor joists to support flooring systems.
• Trim Carpentry: Crafting interior moldings such as mantels and skirting boards.
• Cabinet Carpentry: Building kitchen, bathroom, and other types of cabinetry.
• Ship Carpentry: Constructing or repairing wooden parts of ships.

Joinery

Definition: Joinery is assembling wooden components using various joints to create solid structures. It is crucial in furniture, doors, windows, and floors.

Examples of Joinery Tasks:

• Butt Joint: Simple end-to-face joint, often secured with fasteners.
• Mitered Butt Joint: Angled version of the butt joint, offering improved aesthetics.
• Half-Lap Joint: Each piece removes half its thickness to interlock flush.
• Tongue and Groove: Interlocking edge joint for added surface area and stability.
• Mortise and Tenon: A strong, classic joint ideal for frames and load-bearing structures.
• Biscuit Joint: Uses beechwood inserts (biscuits) for aligning and strengthening edge joints.
• Finger Joint: Comb-like interlocking joint ideal for extending board length.

Measurement & Marking Tools

Tools:

• Tape Measure, Try Square, Marking Gauge, Caliper, Ruler

These tools ensure accuracy in dimensions and layout.

• Mortise Gauge: Specialized marking tool for laying out mortises and tenons.

Cutting & Shaping Tools

Tools:

• Saw, Chisel, Plane, Router, Jigsaw

Uses:

• Hand saw, Crosscut saw, Pruning saw: Cutting through wood
• Plane: Chamfering, smoothing, and leveling surfaces
• Chisel: Mortise cut, paring, chopping
• Router: Hollowing out wood areas

Milling and Machining Vocabulary

This includes preparing wood for joinery or finishing:

• Planer: Smooths and thins boards
• Jointer: Flattens edges for joining
• Table Saw: Cuts straight lines with precision
• Blade Kerf: Width of the cut made by the saw blade

Wood Grain & Movement Terms

Wood behavior varies by grain and moisture:

• Grain: Direction of wood fibers
• Warp, Twist, Bow, Cup: Types of distortion
• Fibers, Tension, Shrinkage, Swell, Orientation: Factors affecting wood stability
• Figure: Visual pattern in wood grain
• Quarter-sawn: Milling method for stable grain orientation
• Janka Scale: Measures wood hardness

Sanding & Finishing Terms

• Sandpaper, Finish, Stain, Lacquer, Sealer

Techniques:

• Penetrating Finishes: Soak into wood for natural look
• Surface Finishes: Form a protective coating on top
• French Polish: Shellac-based high-gloss technique
• Padding Lacquer: Applied with a cloth for a smooth finish
• Whiskeying: Rubbing oil finish for subtle enhancement

Common Finishing Defects Vocabulary

• Blotching: Uneven absorption of finish
• Orange Peel: Uneven surface texture
• Fisheyes: Contaminant-induced finish failure
• Dust Nib: Raised specks from dust contamination
• Bleed-Through: Stains or colors seeping through finish layers

Safety and Shop Terminology

• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment like dust masks and goggles
• Kickback: Wood forcefully ejected by saw blade
• Riving Knife: Prevents kickback by keeping cut open
• Featherboard: Guide for holding workpiece steady during cuts

Emerging Trends

• CNC Nesting: Software-optimized cutting layouts for efficiency
• Thermally Modified Timber (TMT): Heat-treated for durability and stability
• Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT): Engineered wood for strength and sustainability

Deprecated/Updated Terms

• Adz → Use “chisel”
• Bastard Cut → Use “second-cut file”
• Jew’s Pitch → Use “hide glue”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What joint is strongest for frames? A: Mortise and tenon and dovetail joints are among the strongest and most durable options for structural frames.

Q: How do you describe the finger-join technique? A: Finger joints interlock in a comb-like fashion along end grain, providing strength and increased gluing surface area.

Q: What tool marks mortise lines accurately? A: A mortise gauge is the precise tool used for marking mortise lines accurately.

Conclusion

This glossary equips you with essential woodworking terms to help you navigate manuals, communicate with peers, and improve your practical skills. From basic hand tools to advanced joinery and finishing techniques, this guide ensures you’re prepared for any woodworking task.